The Kansas City Chiefs took the field for their first full-squad training camp practice. There was plenty of 11-on-11 work, which made it fun for the few thousand fans in attendance. What also made it fun for fans was that Jamaal Charles and Justin Houston were in attendance. Both players ran onto the field to cheers from the fans. Yes, it's just practice .... but it got me excited (that is not what she said).
Justin Houston spoke today, which is the highlight. Go read that here.
The Chiefs also ran a lot of 11-on-11 work, which is good for the fans because it's the closest thing to a real game. It's also good for the media because it's much more entertaining. Good job, Andy Reid.
Let's run down the highlights of Chiefs practice on Thursday.
Those not practicing
Sean McGrath was not in attendance for unknown reasons. Read more on that here.
Sanders Commings was a surprise addition to the group of Chiefs injured players. He worked with the trainers off to the side. Read more about his injury here, including quotes from Andy Reid.
Rok Watkins has a disc issue in his back and did not practice. Reid did not indicate a timetable.
Joe McKnight and David Van Dyke were placed on the PUP list earlier this week and they remain there. Neither player practiced, instead working with the trainers off to the side.
Position battle update
RG: Rishaw Johnson took snaps over Zach Fulton on the first team.
DE: Allen Bailey is still lining up with the first team.
S: Husain Abdullah remains at free safety.
WR: Junior Hemingway was in the slot.
K: Ryan Succop and Cairo Santos rotated kicks. They each went 6-for-6 during practice, ranging from 28 to 43 yards.
Practice observations
- The first play in 11-on-11 was a screen to Jamaal Charles. Fitting.
- Alex Smith found Dwayne Bowe on a couple of deep crossing patterns. I know everyone is in the best shape of their life ... but Bowe looks pretty good.
- Travis Kelce had two catches that got the crowd going. He can be a nice burst over the middle of the field for the Chiefs.
- A long Chase Daniel pass was intercepted by Marcus Cooper.
- De'Anthony Thomas continues to line up mostly as a running back. If it is at receiver, he's usually shifting over there from the backfield.
- Malcolm Bronson lined up at safety. He's showing some versatility after lining up at nickelback when Chris Owens went down this offseason.
- Mark Harrison was a tryout player during the Chiefs mandatory minicamp in June. He had a memorable play back then where he went over the defensive back to pull down a catch. He had a similar play on Thursday where he pulled down the ball because he was just bigger. Nice use of his size.
- The quarterbacks rotated so that they all some time with first team players. That didn't happen during the offseason.
The kick returner rotation
1. Knile Davis
2. De'Anthony Thomas
3. Albert Wilson
4. Frankie Hammond
5. Weston Dressler
Davis, DAT and Wilson all saw two returns during their work. The others saw one.
Catch of the day
Mine goes to AJ Jenkins, who hauled down a hard Alex Smith pass that was over his head. Jenkins showed full extension to jump up, stop the ball and pull it in. Not an easy one to make.
Others might say the Harrison catch I described above.
Weird jersey of the day
Tavon Austin? OK.
The food at Chiefs camp
Best jersey of the day
Jersey of the year so far #chiefs pic.twitter.com/6p0ggIEpHe
— Bob Fescoe (@bobfescoe) July 24, 2014